Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, you must be 18 years of age or older to take the GED^® test.

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you cannot schedule any GED^® test until an official Letter of Withdrawal from the last school you attended has been approved by the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Office. The Letter of Withdrawal must contain the following information:

• Be on school letterhead, including the address and phone number.
  
• Includes your last date of attendance and your date of withdrawal.
  
• Come from the office of the Principal/Headmaster or the Head of Guidance
  
• Must be signed by the Principal/Headmaster or the Head of Guidance.
  

You may submit your letter by email to [email protected] .

You will be contacted via email by the HSE Team within three business days of the receipt of your letter and the required information.

Once you have received email approval of your Letter of Withdrawal, you will be able to go back into your account and schedule your tests.

For more information or assistance, please email Ms. Stroud or call her at 781-338-6625. Additional information about high School Equivalency testing in Massachusetts can be found here.

Once approved,you will receive an email from GED Testing Service notifying you that you are able to schedule your GED^® test.

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• A parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in to give consent and authorize the underage tester to be recorded during testing. If the parent or guardian is not present, the exam session will be revoked.

In order to take the GED^® test in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you must be living at a Massachusetts address, the same address you used to register and create your account.

If you have more questions, please contact Michael Farma, State Administrator and High School Equivalency Specialist at 781-338-3836.

You must present proper identification at the test center for each test session. Failure to provide documentation will prohibit you from taking the test. Valid identification documents must contain:

• Your name
  
• Your date of birth
  
• You signature
  
• A recent photograph
  

The approved identification documents include:

• A valid Passport
  
• A valid driver’s license from any state
  
• A state-issued ID card
  
• National ID card
  
• Military ID card
  

Some states allow people who don’t live there to take the GED^® test and others don’t. You’ll need to check the residency requirement for the state that you’re interested to test in.

No, you are not required to prepare for the GED^® test in an adult education classroom.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center: 

• No, you’re not required to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test. 

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• Yes, you’re required to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test online. 

To take the GED^® test in Massachusetts you cannot be enrolled in any secondary school program nor can you have previously received a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential. If you have earned a high school diploma but the documentation of that fact cannot be obtained or verified, you may be eligible to take the GED^® test. Please contact Michael Farma, State Administrator and High School Equivalency Specialist at 781-338-3836 for more information.

What is my cost if I test at a Test Center?

• Starting July 1, 2023: Massachusetts charges $36 per subject for the GED® test at a Test Center.

What is my cost if I test Online?

• Massachusetts charges $36 per subject for the GED® test via Online.

Free GED testing!

* We have extended the limited-time offer of up to 2 discounted retakes for exams in test centers, as long as both retakes are completed by June 30, 2024.

You will pay for the test online with a debit or credit card when you schedule your test.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center:  

• In Massachusetts, there is no waiting period for your first two retakes. After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting. There’s no limit to how many times you can test in a year. 

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• The Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a 60 day waiting period. After taking a test subject two times online, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting.  

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center: 

• Starting July 1, 2023: You will receive one discounted* retake for every GED® test subject you purchase but don’t pass. You have 365 days after your full price test to use this retake. This retake offer (1 full price:1 discount) repeats until you pass the test. GED Testing Service waives its $26 testing fee, however additional testing fees may still apply in your state.

*In Massachusetts, there is a $10 test center fee for GED® test retakes.  

• Note: We have extended the limited-time offer of up to 2 discounted retakes for exams taken in test centers, as long as both retakes are completed by June 30, 2024. 

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• The Online Proctored Exam costs $36.00 for a retake in Massachusetts. Discounted retakes are not offered on the Online Proctored Exam. 

Sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your diploma. In Massachusetts all credentials and transcripts are issued by the Commonwealth’s verification partner, Diploma Sender. Diploma Sender requires recent passers to contact them with a current address before the issuance of the initial Credential and Official Transcript. You can go onto their website, Diploma Sender, create an account, and check on the status of your documents. Please contact Michael Farma, State Administrator and High School Equivalency Specialist at 781-338-3836 for more information.

In Massachusetts all credentials, transcripts, and verification documents are issued by the Commonwealth’s verification partner, Diploma Sender. Each document will cost $15, payable by credit card or debit card. Please contact Michael Farma, State Administrator and High School Equivalency Specialist at 781-338-3836 for more information.

In Massachusetts the credential is called the High School Equivalency Credential.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center:

• Yes, in Massachusetts you can take all test subjects in the same day if you can find a testing center with hours that accommodate it.

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• No, you must schedule your test appointments separately, one at a time. After you complete one online exam you may schedule another, based on appointment availability.

Yes, in Massachusetts, you can take the GED^® Test in English or Spanish and you can combine the two languages to earn your credential.

All credentials will be printed in English. Transcripts will be printed in English and will show subtest taken, subtest score, subtest form and subtest language.

Candidates who received a Spanish credential after 2001 may request a credential in English by contacting the DESE/ACLS HSE team in writing at [email protected].

It depends on whether or not that state has a residency requirement. Check the residency requirements in that state and don’t hesitate to contact the GED Administrator^™ in that state with questions.

Michael Farma
High School Equivalency Specialist
GED^® Office
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 338-3836